Mother Earth (Ire)

   At the beginning of 2022, it would have taken an almighty leap of the imagination to envisage Sir Michael Stoute having one of the best years of his career but within the space of just over a month from mid-May it has become a reality. Quite what Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) can go on to achieve is anybody's guess and the non-believers are rightly in a minority where the Derby hero is concerned, but in Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) Newmarket's longstanding doyen has another to take...

Godolphin's June 5 G1 Epsom Derby and July 24 G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) will be one of the 10 starters in Saturday's G1 QIPCO Champion S. at Ascot after Charlie Appleby pushed go on Thursday morning. Fourth in last Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp, the homebred has given all the right signals in the interim period and adds substance to a renewal robbed of Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) who has been re-routed to take the...

A picture of resilience on Newmarket's Rowley Mile on Saturday, Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) comprehensively turned around the form of the G1 1000 Guineas with Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the G1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot S. Runner-up to the Ballydoyle representative on contrasting good-to-firm in the May 2 Classic over this trip, the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained 3-year-old who sports the Sangster silks was 5-1 off a win in the G3 Atalanta S. at Sandown Aug. 21 and bowled along under William Buick at the head of...

It was tight at the finish of Deauville's G1 Prix Rothschild on Tuesday, but when the going gets tough you can rely on Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) to give her all and that was enough to provide Aidan O'Brien with another highlight in France this year. Admirably consistent since her success in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket May 2, the 19-10 favourite who was a latest runner-up in the G1 Falmouth S. on Newmarket's July Course July 9 was happy to follow the leaders early. When Ryan Moore...

Deauville's month-long festival begins on Tuesday, with the G1 Prix Rothschild the central focus of the opening fixture switched from its customary slot on the last Sunday in July. As usual, the foreign presence is strong and foreboding, with Aidan O'Brien looking to continue his golden year in France with Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Successful in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket May 2, she has since run second to Coeursamba (Fr) (The Wow Signal {Ire}) in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp May 16, third in...

In a renewal of Newmarket's G1 Qipco 1000 Guineas which polarised the dreamers and the cynics, experience ultimately told on Sunday with Frankie Dettori the chief benefactor as he steered Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) to glory. Whereas Ballydoyle's Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) had created all the electricity in the build-up to a Classic which lost some key cast members along the way, it was the stable's hard-working journeywoman who nestled under the radar and emerged clear-best to uphold the prime formlines of 2020. Successful in the G3 Coolmore...

Following a BHA inquiry into a saddling error that occurred prior to the running of the G1 Fillies' Mile, trainer Aidan O'Brien has been fined £4,000. His two fillies, Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), apparently ran eighth and third in the event, but O'Brien quickly alerted the British Horseracing Authority that in fact the horses had swapped saddle towels and jockeys. The BHA amended the result with Mother Earth and Snowfall correctly placed third and eighth, respectively. O'Brien was not present at Newmarket the...

   While York's Ebor Festival wraps up with its £250,000 feature handicap on Saturday, The Curragh stages the G2 Galileo Irish EBF Futurity S. and G2 A.R.M. Holding Debutante S. for the budding Classic contenders of 2021. Twelve months ago, Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was finishing fifth to Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) in the Debutante which underlines what these vital staging posts can play host to. While Aidan O'Brien was unable to extend his record tally of a dozen winners despite having that ammunition, the fillies' contest...

'TDN Rising Star' Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) heads to Chantilly on Sunday for another of the European Pattern's main staging posts tackling more than a mile once more in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan. Tried over the 10 1/2-furlong trip of the G1 Prix du Jockey Club here last June, Godolphin and Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd's imposing bay came up two lengths short when runner-up to Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) but it will be a surprise if he is not suited by this unique nine-furlong contest. Proving he retained all his...